Formosan Rock Macaque
Encyclopedia
The Formosan Rock Macaque (Macaca cyclopis) is a macaque
endemic to the island of Taiwan
and has been introduced to Japan
. Besides humans, Formosan Rock Macaques are the only native primates living in Taiwan.
that are found in southern and eastern Asia
as well as northwestern Africa
, the Formosan macaque is endemic to the island of Taiwan
(area: 36,000 km2).
Formosan Rock Monkey lives in mixed coniferous-hardwood temperate
forest, as well as bamboo
and grassland
at 100-3600m (328-11,812ft). The social structure of macaques is generally characterized
as often occurring as a large stable multimale-multifemale troop. Formosan macaque is considered to be female-bonded which is similar to other species in the genus Macaca
. Based on the study of Hsu and Lin, the average overall sex ratio was approximately 1:1, and the average adult sex ratio
was close to 0.53. Solitary adult males were accounted for 5% of the entire population, and they were seen interacting with social troops especially during mating season.
Rock macaques are diurnal, arboreal, and terrestrial
. More often they stay in trees and less so on the ground. They rest in forest and forage
in grassland. Their diet consists of fruit
s, tender leaves, buds, grass stems, insects, snails, and bird eggs.
of the female swells at the base of the tail, and there is also swelling along the thighs. Their mating season is from October to January. Gestation
may last about five and a half months. Females give birth to babies between spring and summer. Nursing are entirely on females. Youngsters are carried in mother's arms for 2-3 months. Not until one year old, will youngsters be fully separated from their parents carrying.
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
endemic to the island of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and has been introduced to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Besides humans, Formosan Rock Macaques are the only native primates living in Taiwan.
Physical Characteristics
Rock macaques measure 50-60 cm and weigh 5-12 kg, generally females are smaller. Their tails are moderately long and measure 26-45 cm. This macaque is brown or gray in color. The monkey has specialized pouch-like cheeks, allowing it to temporarily hoard its food. The gathered morsels are eaten sometime later, in safe surroundings.Life and Behavior
Among the 22 species of the genus MacacaMacaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
that are found in southern and eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
as well as northwestern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, the Formosan macaque is endemic to the island of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(area: 36,000 km2).
Formosan Rock Monkey lives in mixed coniferous-hardwood temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
forest, as well as bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
at 100-3600m (328-11,812ft). The social structure of macaques is generally characterized
as often occurring as a large stable multimale-multifemale troop. Formosan macaque is considered to be female-bonded which is similar to other species in the genus Macaca
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
. Based on the study of Hsu and Lin, the average overall sex ratio was approximately 1:1, and the average adult sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
was close to 0.53. Solitary adult males were accounted for 5% of the entire population, and they were seen interacting with social troops especially during mating season.
Rock macaques are diurnal, arboreal, and terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
. More often they stay in trees and less so on the ground. They rest in forest and forage
Forage
Forage is plant material eaten by grazing livestock.Historically the term forage has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used more loosely to include similar plants cut for fodder and carried to the animals, especially...
in grassland. Their diet consists of fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s, tender leaves, buds, grass stems, insects, snails, and bird eggs.
Reproduction
The Formosan rock macaque gives birth to a single offspring. During estrus, the perineumPerineum
In human anatomy, the perineum is a region of the body including the perineal body and surrounding structures...
of the female swells at the base of the tail, and there is also swelling along the thighs. Their mating season is from October to January. Gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
may last about five and a half months. Females give birth to babies between spring and summer. Nursing are entirely on females. Youngsters are carried in mother's arms for 2-3 months. Not until one year old, will youngsters be fully separated from their parents carrying.
Protected Species
Formosan rock macaques are hunted for their meat and for the damage they do to crops. They are also hunted for the purpose of exports for medical experimental use.External links
- ARKive - images and movies of the Formosan rock macaque (Macaca cyclopis)
- Primate Behaviour (November, 2006)
- Animal Diversity Web (November, 2006)
- Hsu, M.J. and Lin, J. (2001) Troop Size and Structure in Free-ranging Formosan Macaques (Macaca cyclopis) at Mt. Longevity, Taiwan. Zoological Studies, 40 (1): 49 - 60.
- Formosan macaque revival raises ecological questions – Taiwan Journal, Jan 06, 2004 (November, 2006)
- 台灣獼猴 (in Chinese)